1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shipping pigs for radiopharmaceuticals that use lead for radiation shielding. In particular, lead shielding between outer cases and inner plastic liners are enclosed and sealed.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Conventional shipping pigs for radiopharmaceuticals includes those that use lead for radiation shielding. Some have removable inner liners to hold the syringes containing the radiopharmaceutical. Such inner liners are inserted with outer cases of the radiopharmaceutical pigs.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a radiopharmaceutical pig that encloses and seals lead shielding between outer cases and inner plastic liners.

One aspect of the invention resides in encapsulation of an inner facing surface of a lead shield of a radiopharmaceutical pig. The inner facing surface defines a chamber in which is inserted a radiopharmaceutical syringe. The encapsulation protects the inner facing surface against contamination due to leaks of the contents of the radiopharmaceutical syringe and further obviates the need for a sharps container to enclose the syringe.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cutaway view of a radiopharmaceutical pig in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an elevation side view thereof.

Turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 identify lower assembly components, namely, a lower case 1, a lower lead shield 2, a lower liner 3, and an O-ring 4, all which may be collectively considered part of a lower assembly 13. FIGS. 1 and 2 also identify upper assembly components, namely, an upper lead shield 5, an upper liner 6 and an upper case 7, all which may collectively be considered part of an upper assembly 14.

The lower case 1 may be made of plastic, metal or a combination of each. The lower lead shield 2 is securely attached to the lower case 1, such as with glue, epoxy, a laminate or heat sealing materials. A lower liner 3 is likewise securely attached to the lower lead shield 2 with an encapsulating material, such as with glue, epoxy, a laminate, or heat sealing materials, so that an inner facing surface of the lower lead shield 2 is completely covered and sealed, i.e., encapsulated by the lower liner 3. The O ring 4, which may be made of neoprene or other elastomer, is securely attached into a groove 8, such as with glue or epoxy. The groove 8 may be formed to accommodate the way that the lower liner 3 fits with the lower case 1.

The upper case 7 may be made of plastic, metal or a combination of both. The upper lead shield 6 is securely attached to the upper case 7, such as with glue or heat sealing materials. The upper liner 5 is securely attached to the upper lead shield 6 with an encapsulating material, such as glue, epoxy, a laminate or heat sealing materials, so that the lead of the upper lead shield 6 is completely covered and sealed, i.e., encapsulated.

The O-ring 4 seals the lower liner 3 to the upper liner 5 as the upper assembly 14 is screwed onto the lower assembly 13 using the threads 9. Each of the lower line 3 and the upper liner 5 may have outwardly directed flange surfaces that sandwich the O-ring 4 between them to seal a chamber defined by the lower and upper liners 3, 5. The threads 9 may be triple start threaded to reduce an amount of turns needed to screw the two assemblies 13, 14 together.

In addition, the lower case 1 has flats 11 that are molded to prevent the lower assembly 13 from rolling on a flat surface. There may be a configuration with at least one corner such as a hexagon shape 12 molded onto the bottom of the lower case 1 such that the hexagon shape 12 can be secured in a hexagon shaped hole or recess. This way the upper assembly 14 can be screwed to, or unscrewed from, the lower assembly 13 without the user holding onto the lower assembly. This greatly reduces the amount and duration of hand exposure to radiation, because the user no longer needs to hold onto the lower assembly during the screwing and unscrewing operations.

The syringe 10 contains a radiopharmaceutical and is placed into the lower liner 3 before the two halves of the upper and lower cases 1, 7 are screwed together by engaging thread connections. After the two halves have been screwed together, the syringe 10 is shipped filled within the two halves to a site. After arrival at the site, the syringe is removed from the two halves and used to administer the radiopharmaceutical from the syringe. When done, the empty syringe is replaced in the pig and then shipped back empty.

The two lead shields 2, 6 have edges that face each other that are configured to overlap and engage each other so as to completely shield against penetration of radiation at the joint between the two lead shields 2, 6. Thus, lower lead shield 2 may have a tubular projection in the edge that complements, but is of a reduced diameter, than a further tubular projection in the edge of the upper lead shield 5. The lower lead shield 2 may have a lower projection that fits within a complementary recess inside at the base of the lower case 1,

As a result of encapsulating, the lower and upper lead shields 2, 6 are sealed and thereby protected by the lower and upper liners 3, 5 against contamination from any radiopharmaceutical remnants from the syringe 10 and against exposing the lead shields to cleansing fluids such as water when cleaning them. The lower and upper lines 3, 5 may be formed of plastic or metal material.

The syringe 10 may be entirely free of any sharps container surrounding it, because the lower and upper liners 3, 5 obviate the need for it. Indeed, a sharps container would not need to be used in the radiopharmaceutical pig of the present invention to provide sufficient protection of the lead shields against contamination by the discharge of any remnants from within the syringe 10, because the encapsulation provides sufficient protection. The lower and upper liners 3, 5 themselves may be formed of an encapsulating material that adheres or otherwise clings to secure itself to the lead shield to which it is in contact, such as when subjected to a sufficient amount of heat.

While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.